Chapter 163
2022 -- S 2317
Enacted 06/27/2022

A N   A C T
RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ACT

Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Miller, Felag, Lawson, Coyne, and DiPalma

Date Introduced: February 15, 2022

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 40-6-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6 entitled "Public
Assistance Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     40-6-8. Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
     (a) The department shall have the responsibility to administer the food stamp program for
the state in compliance with the provisions of the federal Food Stamp Act of 1964, as amended, 7
U.S.C. § 2011 et seq. The supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) is and shall be the
new title of the program formerly known as the food stamp program. All references in the Rhode
Island general laws to food stamps shall be deemed to mean, apply to, refer to, and be interpreted
in accordance with the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
     (b) The department is empowered and authorized to submit its plan for food stamps to the
federal government, or any agency or department of it., as follows:
     (1) The department shall act for the state in any negotiations relative to the submission and
approval of a plan, and may make any arrangement or changes in its plan not inconsistent with this
chapter that may be required by the Food Stamp Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
pursuant to it to obtain and retain such approval and to secure for this state the benefits of the
provisions of the federal act relating to food stamps.;
     (2) The department shall make reports to the federal government, or any agency or
department of it, in the form and nature required by it, and in all respects comply with any request
or direction of the federal government, or any agency or department of it, that may be necessary to
assure the correctness and verification of the reports; and
     (3) The department shall develop a plan to streamline the application, certification, and
recertification process for SNAP beneficiaries aged sixty (60) years and over.
     (c) The department is authorized and directed to pay one hundred percent (100%) of the
state's share of the administrative cost involved in the operation of the food stamp program.
     (d) No person shall be ineligible for food stamp benefits due solely to the restricted
eligibility rules otherwise imposed by § 115(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-193), 21 U.S.C. § 862a(a)(2), and as this
section may hereafter be amended.
     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC004642
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